Key actuated mechanism with temporary ball tumbler



1956 F. J. RUSSELL ETAL 3,234,753

KEY ACTUATED MECHANISM WITH TEMPORARY BALL TUMBLER Filed April 15, 1963IYQED I. RUSSELL F1250 L. JENN/E 12/044720 L. QRMSTIQON INVENTORS 34% aJ/a/naXa/w R w m m w x n W. H 5 a m 2 6 :3 my H 9 a F 1 Mama 0 2 3 4 Q 3ATTORNENS United States Patent Gfilice 3,234,768 Patented Feb. 15, 19663,234,768 KEY ACTUATED MECHANISM WITH TEMPORARY BALL TUMBLER Fred J.Russell, 8635 Otis St., South Gate, Califl, Fred L. Jennie, liuena Park,and Richard L. Armstrong, Santa Fe Springs, Califi; said Jennie and saidArmstrong assignors to said Russell Filed Apr. 15, 1963, Ser. No.272,898 4 Claims. (Cl. 70--383) The invention relates to looks and moreparticularly to improvements in tumbler lock cylinders of the typedisclosed in co-pending application Serial Number 199,389, filed June 1,1962, now Patent No. 3,175,379.

Tumbler lock cylinders are used to a great extent in door locks, nightlatches, padlocks, and many other types of locking devices, but thosenow in general use suffer the common disadvantage of having to becompletely disassembled in order to change their pin tumblercombinations. This generally requires the services of a skilledlocksmith; and in cases where it is necessary to change the combinationsof a large number of lock cylinders, the task is both time consuming andexpensive.

Some devices have already been devised for changing the keying of locksof the tumbler type which are especially advantageous in changing fromconstruction key systems to owner key systems, but most of thoseheretofore available are to a degree objectionable because of operatingin such fashion that a portion of the locks structure is mutilated whena changeover is made. Others have the objection of making it necessaryto provide costly auxiliary apparatus in the lock device useful onlyduring the construction period, the structure moreover being such thatportions of the added structure need to be carried permanently by thelock device at unwanted locations even though they are no longer useful.Others are susceptible to accidentall unintentional changeover, andstill others require a construction which reduces the security of thelock, especially after changeover. More recently, locks orf this kindhave been devised wherein portions of the mechanism or perhaps a toolreceiving aperture is exposed to the face of the lock to the detrimentof its appearance and also at a location where tampering is invited.Still others require the key to be rotated a considerable angulardistance before an extra part can be ejected from the system, and thesefrequently depend upon gravity only to eject an extra tumbler,circumstances being such that if the ejection passage is relativelysmall, it may clog just sufficiently to prevent ejection of the tumblerand as a result render the lock useless until it can be taken apart andreadjusted.

It is therefore among the objects of the invention to provide a new andimproved selective key lock system useful as a construction key locksystem which is of such character that, even though a changeover hasbeen made from one selected key lock system to another selected key locksystem, the changeover will be such as to incur no radical change inwhat is otherwise a substantially standand lock construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved tumblerlock cylinder, the combination of which may be changed by rotation ofthe key plug through less one hundred and eighty degrees and which istherefore well suited for use in those locking devices, particularlydoor locks, the mechanisms of which are designed to operate in less thanone-quarter turn of the key plug.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved lockcylinder which is so constructed that one or more of the tumblersinitially provided therein may be permanently moved from operatingposition without disassembling the lock cylinder in order to change itstumbler combination.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lock cylinder whereinthe pin tumbler combination may be permanently changed simply by use ofa regular key provided for operating the lock cylinder.

A further object still of the invention is to provide a new and improvedselective key lock system whereby the keying arrangement can be easilyaltered on the completion of some event such as completion ofconstruction, the rekeying of the system being such that it is simple,positive, and inexpensive, and at the same time capable of makingcertain that only the user of an owner key can make the changeover fromconstruction setting to owner setting.

To appreciate the need for a simple, effective rekeying system like thatherein disclosed, it should be appreciated that one of the morepractical uses for lock cylinders embodying the present invention is inthe door locks of tract houses or of a large building. During theconstruction period, each of the contractors is usually given atemporary or construction key which will operate all of the lockcylinders of the installation, so that the contractor may enter lockedpremises at any time to perform his work. When the building has beencompleted, it is common practice to change the combinations of thevarious lock cylinders so that they can no longer be operated by theconstruction key, thus preventing entry by unauthorized or unscrupulouspersons who might have gained possession of the construction key.Heretofore, it has been necessary to disassemble each lock cylinder inorder to change its combination, but with the present invention, thecombinations of the lock cylinders may be easily and quickly changed bya person possessed of an authorized key in a manner such that after thechange, a construction key can no longer open the lock.

With the objects heretofore set forth in view the invention consists inthe construction arrangement and combination of the various parts of thedevice whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter setforth, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the device partially broken awayshowing a temporary or construction key inserted therein.

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1showing the temporary or construction key in place.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing a permanent or owner keyin position partially rotated as in rekeying.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the new position of thesetting after rekeying and with the construction key in place.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the left-hand end ofthe device as viewed in FIGURE 1 if it were not a cutaway.

In the device chosen for the purpose of illustration, there is shown ahousing indicated generally by the reference character 10 having acylindrical portion 11 and an integral radially extending casing 12along one side, namely, the upper side as viewed in the figures of thedrawing. Rotatably mounted in the cylindrical portion 11 of the housing10 is a cylindrical key plug 13 having a flange 14 at the outer endoverlying an outer face 15 of the cylindrical portion 11 and a retainingring 16 fastened to the key plug 13 in the usual fashion overlying aninner face 18 of the housing 10 whereby the key plug 13 is securedrotatably in position. Following conventional practice, a spindle 17,nonrotatably attached to the key plug 13 serves to carry operation ofthe key plug 13 to the customary lock parts (not shown).

At the outer end of the device is a first set of tumbler 3 holes 19 and20, the tumbler hole 19 being in the casing 12 and the tumbler hole 20being in the cylindrical portion 11. These tumbler holes are inalignment in one position of rotation of the key plug 13, namely, theposition shown in FIGURES 1, 2, and 4 and when in alignment may bedescribed as forming together a first tumbler bore. 'Inwardly from thefirst tumbler bore are additional tumbler bores spaced from each otherin the usual fashion throughout the length of the housing 10, therebeing one tumbler bore shown for purposes of illustration consisting ofa tumbler hole 21 in the casing 12 and a matching tumbler hole 22 in thekey plug 13. "The key plug 13 has an axially extending keyway 23 runningthe length of the key plug 13 inwardly from an outer end 24, the keyway23 being in communication with each of the tumbler bores.

In each of the tumbler bores formed as described by the set of tumblerholes 21, 22 is a set of tumbler elements, namely, a driver tumblerelement 25 and a driven tumbler element 26, the driver tumbler element25 being normally spring pressed downwardly by means of a spring 27.

In the outermost tumbler bore made up of the tumbler hole 19 and tumblerhole 20 is a set of tumbler elements consisting initially of a drivertumbler element in the tumbler hole 19, a driven tumbler element 31 inthe tumbler hole 20 and a temporary tumbler element 32 positionedtherebetween. A spring 33 acts against the driver tumbler element 30 tourge it into the position of engagement shown. The temporary tumblerelement 32 is preferably in the form of a ball appreciably smaller indiameter than the diameter of the tumbler bore and the driver and driventumbler element contained therein.

When the temporary tumbler element 32 is in position, the device may besaid to be keyed for temporary or construction key operation. Atemporary or construction key is indicated by the reference character34. The construction key 34 has key cuts at such locations that,

when inserted, all of the sets of tumblers contained in the device arelifted to release positions. Typical of this is a'key cut 35 whichserves the set of tumblers in holes 21, 22. An outermost key cut 36serves the outermost set of tumbler holes 19, 20 and the correspondingset of tumbler elements 30, 31, and 32. In this instance, the level ofthe key cut 36 is such that the junction of the driver tumbler element30 and the upper surface of the temporary tumbler element 32 coincidewith a shear line 37 when the other sets of tumbler elements are inrelease position. The shear line 37 is defined by the peripheral surface38 of the key plug 13 and a cylindrical chamber 39 in the cylindricalportion 11 of the housing 11 and in particular that portion of thecommon area of engagement where it intersects the tumbler bores.

A passage 40 extends through the cylindrical portion 11 and a part ofthe casing 12 at the shear line 37. In the chosen embodiment, thelongitudinal axis of the passage 40 is substantially perpendicular tothe axis of the tumbler bore defined by the tumbler holes 19 and 20. The

diameter of the passage 40 is made greater than the diameter of thetemporary tumbler element 32 and preferably substantially greater sothat there is no impediment to the passage 40 of the temporary tumblerelement 32 at the proper time.

When the device is being operated by construction keys like the key 34and the key 34 inserted in position as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, thesets of tumblers are all at release positions as heretofore described,as is also the temporary tumbler element 32 at its point of engagementwith the driver tumbler element 30. When the construction key 34 isrotated thereby to rotate the key plug 13, the temporary tumbler element32 will pass by the passage 40 without opportunity of entering thepassage and will remain in place so long as the construction key 34 isused.

When it comes time to rekey the device, all that is necessary is toinsert a permanent or owner key 45 into the keyway 23. The owner key 45is provided with a key cut 46 substantially higher than thecorrespondingly located key cut 36 of the construction key 34%. The keycut 46 raises the driven tumbler element 31 and the accompanying drivertumbler element 30 and temporary tumbler element 32 to positions wherethe junction of the upper surface of the driven tumbler element 31 andthe surface of the temporary tumbler element 32 coincides with the shearline 37. The spring 33 merely yields sufficiently to permit thisadjustment. Thereupon, when the owner key 45 is rotated, as it would bein unlocking the device, the temporary tumbler element 32 is forcedoutwardly through the passage 40. This ejecting of the temporary tumblerelement 32 is positive and immediate. Ejection is aided materially bythe angular disposition on adjacent faces of respectively the drivertumbler element 30 and driven tumbler element 31 and in addition isaided by pressure of the spring 33 which tends to accelerate ejection asthe temporary tumbler element 32 goes out through the passage 40. Itwill moreover be of no materiality what the rotative position of thehousing 10 may be when ejection takes place, since the forcible ejectionfor the reasons described is independent of any gravity action.

Subsequent to ejection of the temporary tumbler element 32 the drivertumbler element 30 and driven tumbler element 31 thereupon comprise anew set of tumbler elements having a different keying relationship thanwas the keying relationship when these last defined tumbler elementswere combined with the temporary tumbler element 32. The new keyingrelationship is illustrated in FIGURE 4, where the driven tumblerelement 31 is shown resting upon the key cut 36 of the construction key34. In this relationship, the driver tumbler element 30 extends acrossthe shear line 37 locking the key plug 13 and, as shown, theconstruction key 34 can no longer be employed to unlock the lock. Fromthis point on, only the owner key 45 which has the higher key cut 46will be capable of lifting the driven tumbler element 31 so that itsjunction with the driver tumbler 30 coincides with the shear line 37.

While the invention has herein been shown and described in what isconceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of theinvention which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein butis to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any andall equivalent devices.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new in support ofLetters Patent is:

1. In a lock housing, a key plug rotatably mounted in said housing formovement between locking and unlocking positions, said key plug having akeyway therein, said housing and said key plug having a plurality ofsets of tumbler holes therein which are alignable and form tumbler boresin communication with said keyway, a set of tumbler elements springbiased in a direction toward said keyway and movable in. each said boreto release position wherein movement of said key plug to unlockingposition is permitted, a first temporary key and a second permanent keyinsertable in said keyway and fitted for cooperation with said sets oftumbler elements, one of said sets of tumbler elements initiallyincluding a temporary tumbler element which is a ball and which is ofsuch diameter that it will permit movement of said one set of tumblerelements to release position when either said temporary key or saidpermanent key is inserted into said keyway so that the key plug isoperable by either of said keys, said housing having a passage throughthe wall thereof and communicating between the interior at a locationadjacent the tumbler bore which has the temporary tumbler elementtherein and adjacent and in communication with the tumbler hole of thehousing, said passage having a cross sectional area greater than thecross sectional area of said temporary tumbler element, whereby thefirst time said permanent key is used to operate the key plug, saidtemporary tumbler element is moved to a position opposite the inside endof said passage and permanently ejected outwardly through said passage,thereby to provide a permanent new relationship of tumbler elements insaid one bore responsive to the permanent key and not responsive to thetemporary key.

2. In a lock a housing, a key plug rotatably mounted in said housing formovement between locking and unlocking positions, said key plug having akeyway therein, said housing and said key plug having a plurality ofsets of tumbler holes therein which are alignable and form tumbler boresin communication with said keyway, a set of tumbler elements movable ineach said bore to release position wherein movement of said key plug tounlocking position is permitted, a first temporary key and a secondpermanent key insertable in said keyway and fitted for cooperation withsaid sets of tumbler elements, one of said sets of tumbler elementsbeing spring biased in a direction toward said keyway and initiallyincluding a temporary tumbler element which is a ball and which is ofsuch diameter that it will permit movement of said one set of tumblerelements to release position when either said temporary key or saidpermanent key is inserted into said keyway so that the key plug isoperable by either of said keys, said housing having a passage throughthe wall thereof and communicating between the interior at a locationadjacent the tumbler bore which has the temporary tumbler elementtherein and adjacent and in the communication with the junction of thetumbler hole of the housing and corresponding tumbler hole of the keyplug, said passage having a cross sectional area greater than the crosssectional area of said temporary tumbler element, whereby the first timesaid permanent key is used to operate the key plug, said temporarytumbler element is moved to a position opposite the inside end of saidpassage and permanently ejected outwardly through said passage uponrotation of said key plug, thereby to provide a permanent newrelationship of tumbler elements in said one bore responsive to thepermanent key and not responsive to the temporary key.

3. In a lock a housing, a key plug rotatably mounted in said housing formovement between locking and unlocking positions, said key plug having akeyway therein, said housing and said key plug having a plurality ofsets of tumbler holes therein which are alignable and form tumbler boresin communication with said keyway, a set of tumbler elements springbiased in a direction toward said keyway and movable in each said boreto release position wherein movement of said key plug to unlockingposition is permitted, a first temporary key and a second permanent keyinsertable in said keyway and fitted for cooperation with said sets oftumbler elements, one of said sets of tumbler elements initiallyincluding two permanent pin tumbler elements and a temporary balltumbler element therebetween sized to permit movement of said one set oftumbler elements to release position when either said temporary key orsaid permanent key is inserted into said keyway so that the key plug isoperable by either of said keys, said housing having a passage throughthe wall thereof and communicating between the interior at a locationadjacent the tumbler bore which has the temporary tumbler elementtherein and adjacent the junction of the tumbler hole of the housing andcorresponding tumbler hole of the key plug and substantially coincidingwith the location of the ball tumbler element when the permanent key isinserted, said passage having a cross sectional area greater than thecross sectional area of said temporary tumbler element, whereby thefirst time said permanent key is used to operate the key plug, saidtemporary tumbler element is moved to a position opposite the inside endof said passage and permanently ejected outwardly through said passageupon rotation of said key plug, thereby to provide a permanent newrelationship of tumbler elements in said one bore responsive to thepermanent key and not responsive to the temporary key.

4. A lock tumbler cylinder assembly including a cylinder housing, a keyplug rotatable in the cylinder housing, said housing and said key plughaving sets of tumbler holes in parallel alignment, a series of sets ofmovable tumblers in the holes of the cylinder housing and key plug forlocking the key plug against rotation, said tumblers being spring biasedin a direction toward said key plug and adapted to be moved by a keyinserted through the front of the key plug, said tumblers allowingrotation of the key plug when the tumblers are in release position, oneof said tumblers being an extra tumbler in one of the sets of tumblers,said extra tumbler being a ball which is of such diameter that it willallow rotation of said key plug when the remaining tumblers are inrelease position, said cylinder housing having a discharge holetherethrough of diameter greater than the diameter of said extra tumblerand in the same plane of rotation as said extra tumbler, said dischargehole being in communication with the respective bore of the cylinderhousing at the end adjacent the key plug, said discharge hole beingadapted to pass said extra tumbler when said key plug is in a rotatedposition which aligns the extra tumbler with the discharge hole.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,818,723 1/1958Levin -383 3,070,987 1/ 1963 Baker et al. 70383 3,073,146 1/1963Patriquin 70-383 3,078,705 2/1963 Morrison 73-383 3,125,878 3/1964Gutman 70--383 3,183,692 5/1965 Check 70383 FOREIGN PATENTS 505,759 8/1930 Germany.

JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner. ALBERT H. KAMPE, Examiner.

4. A LOCK TUMBLER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A CYLINDER HOUSING, A KEYPLUG ROTATABLE IN THE CYLINDER HOUSING, SAID HOUSING AND SAID KEY PLUGHAVING SETS OF